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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 671, 14 June 1870, Page 2

In the Warden's Court, yesterday, Felix West v. William Morris, the action was brought to recover the possession of a cottage and section in Bright street, alleged to have been illegally occupied by the defendant. Complainant stated in evidence that he had purchased the property in dispute from Thomas Sherrard -About 16 months ago. About twelve

months ago Morris arrived from Wanganui hard up, and he placed him in the cottage, and he was to pay rent as soon as he had turned himself round and got something to do. He had recently applied for rent, and the defendant had refused to pay any, and claimed the property. He had not taken out a business license for the property until April sth, 1870, and defendant the same day went to Mrs West and asked for money also to take out a license. Defendant's license was also dated April sth, but taken out subsequently to complainant's license. In answer to the Warden, West stated that he had not formally taken possession of the property since taking out a business license. The Warden said it was unnecessary to proceed with the case and nonsuited the complainant.

It is notified in another column that lenders will be received at the District 'Engineer's office, Westport, until Saturday, for the formation of JL,yttelton street. Seven tenders were lodged at the District Engineer's office, Westport, contracting to supply the stone for the groin in the river. The tenders have been submitted to Nelson for approval, and a reply will probably be received to-day, when the work will at once be proceeded with. Mr Dobson considers the tenders sent in eligible in every respect. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mary Sullivan, charged with drunkenness and tearing Constable Williams's coat, was fined 10s and ordered to pay 15s damages, or in default three days' imprisonment. The only civil case disposed of was Tonks and Hughes v. White in which plaintiffs obtained judgment by default in the amount of their claim and costs. A section of land and two tenements, situated in Bright-street, the property of Mr H. Pitt were sold at auction by Mr John Munro on Saturday, realising .£34. His Honor Justice Clarke, accompanied by Mr Home, Crown Prosecutor, and Messrs Button and Pitt, proceeded to Charleston on Saturday per Cobb's Coach. Dr Giles and Mr Dobson, District Engineer, proceeded to Charleston yesterday, having been subpoenaed as witnesses in the case of Haines v. Hunter.

At a meeting of the Education ratepayers, on Saturday, held at the Courthouse, Messrs Fleming, Sheahan, and Lewis were elected members of the Westport Education Committee, in place of Messrs Munro. Franklyn, and Reid retired.

A system of telegraphic money orders has been arranged, and will be brought into operation, immediately. During the first month, that the reduced telegraphic tariff was in operation there was an increase over the last month of the old tariff of 5015 messages, but a decrease in revenue of .£145 12s 6d.

The W. C. Times of the 6th, writes:—We recently published a telgram, stating that Judge Ward had been appointed District Judge for Westland. The next day an absolute contradiction came by telegram from the Attorney-General, which we promptly gave publication to. Since then we hear of farewell dinners having been to Judge Ward in Dunedin; so it i 3 evident he is going somewhere. The Dunedin JEcho, of the 28th of May, has the following:—" On dit, that his Honor Mr Justice Ward will be appointed District or County Judge to the Hokitika district, We are glad that the Pox Ministry hav9 spoil got an for owing to the return from home of his Honor Mr Justice Chapman. What is really the judicial state of affairs we do not know. Our readers, after this explanation, must judge for themselves.

The very rough weather that prevailed on Saturday and Sunday abated yesterday, although a heavy surf continued to roll home, and at high tide yesterday morning, the wash of the waves inundated the streets in the vicinity of the beach. Very few houses have been flooded on this occasion, and the damage happily falls altogether short of what was experienced about a month back. At the lower end of Gladstone street the beach continues to disappear so quickly that the removal of the remaining buildings has ceased to be a doubtful question. The cottage recently occupied by Mr Limbrick was sold at auction by Mr Munro on Saturday for £l4, and premises adjoining, the property of Mr Levi for £ll 10s. Mr Patterson, the bootmaker, was busy taking down and removing yasterday. The Eobert Burns Hotel, a two-story building is in jeopardy, and was sold at auction yesterday. At the upper end of Gladstone street some damage has been sustained as also in Wharf street. The action of the sea has loosened and detached portions of the river bank, diminishing the narrow strip of thoroughfare occupying the river frontage; and unless some remedy or protection is speedily applied, the removal of the present line of buildings will become necessary. A large reduction has taken place in the price of coals at Greymouth. They are now delivered at 20s per ton.

The number of telegraph posts carried away in the Oamaru district during the recent floods is stated by the Herald to have been 76.

The Bombay Gazette states that at Agra the Duke of Edinburgh is said to have enquired whether the city had a lunatic asylum. On being informed that such an institution would be of no utility in the place, he devoutly thanked Heaven, observing f that, wherever there was one, they invariably took him there, and he always found the word "Welcome" in large letters on the entrance.

The Otago Daily Times is informed that it is proposed to extend the advantages of the Governmnent scheme of life assurance to the cases of doubtful and diseased lives by means of the following plan:— ln dealing with lives of this class, instead of adding, as is usual with insurance companies, a number of years to the actual age of the assured, it is proposed to charge the ordinary rate, and to endorse on the policy a sum equivalent to the extra risk incurred by the Government in the assurance of such a life. This sum so endorsed on the policy to be deducted from the amount assured, should the assured die before the value of premiums paid in amount to the sum assured. The value of the total premiums paid to be computed as if each payment had been invested at compound interest of four or five per cent. The advantages of this plan to any not over-healthy persons who may be assured under it are apparent. Should such persons live to the average age, they will have been charged only the ordinary rates for good lives, and will have altogether escaped the extra charges made under the ordinary system.

Mr Coppock, the proprietor of the Auckland Advertiser, has j oat been committed for trial on charge of libelling Mr Reid, the Editor of the Evening Star, and admitted to bail, himself in i! 200 and two sureties of £IOO each. In the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on the Ist inst, Mr H. Smythies applied to his Honor Mr Justice Chapman for re-admis-fiion to practise as a barrister, when the application was refused.

A petition for presentation to the General Assembly is being numerously signed in Hokitika; the prayer of the petitioners is that somo restrictions may be placed upon the present system of granting hotel licenses to mere shells of buildings, and also that licenses may not be granted to unmarried women.

A private telegram received yesterday from Greymouth announces the sudden decease of Mr Lowe, the Superintendent of the Greymouth Hospital, who was found dead in hii bed on Sunday last. Deceased was formerly dispenser to the Ballarat Hospital.

The adjourned meeting of the Otago St. Patrick's Society, says the Times of the Ist instant, was held last night at the South Australian Hall, Princes street. Mr G. E. Barton, the President, occcupied the chair. Mr Sproule, the Secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting, and stated the questions reserved upon the rules by the Sub-Committee appointed to revise regulations for the Society. The first question wa3 whether the society was to be open to Irishman nnd persons of Irish descent only, or -whether if was to be thrown open to persons of good character of all nations. A smart discussion took place, some being in favor of confining the membership to the Irish alone, end others warmly advocating a liberal extension of the benefits of the society to all honest men whatever their nationality. Upon the question being put it was carried by a large majority, that the Society should be open to all nations whatever. A warm debate also took place as to the amount of entrance fees and subscriptions to be charged, and they were ultimately fixed at a very low scale as follows: — £1 entrance, and Is a week subscription, from 18 to 40 years of age; and £4> entrance, and Is a week subscription, from 40 to 45 years of age. The Chairman mentioned that the Sub-Com-mittee had discussed the question of admitting females as benefit members, thu3 throwing open St. Patrick's Society to the shop girls, seamstresses, and tradeswomen of the Province. The question wa3 nob decided at this meeting, but we understand it will be discussed and decided at the next monthly meeting, to be held on the Bth inst. A number of new members were proposed, and the Secretary announced that the Society was already in a fair way to be highly successful. Drs. Reimer and O'Donoghue having volunteered to examine the candidates for admission to the Society, their services in that matter were accepted by the meeting with thanks. The meeting then passed the rules, and separated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Mr Larnach, the manager of the Bank of Otago has offered to advance half a million of money at 8 per cent, for the construction of the Clutha railway line. In the recent flood (says a New South Wales paper) a prisoner was in danger of being drowned in his cell. When the water reached the unfortunate man's waist, the lock-up keeper telegraphed to headquarters to know if he might liberate the prisoner in case he was overflowed. At Wellington, on the 3rd inst, a servant girl, named Margery Urquhavt, fell dead from apoplexy. On the same night a man named Lowry, of the Nag's Head Inn, fell d >wn stairs in a fit of epilepsy, and died yesterday morning from concussion of the brain.

Jtito, on her last trip,, 797 ozs of gold, of which quantity 450 ozs were for the Bank of New Zealand, and 347 ozs for the Union Bank.

Some months ago, Mr Wright, the Postmaster of Canterbury, left for England for the purpose of asserting the claims of his family to the property of the Deptford Dockyard. The Admiralty having neglected to comply with the conditions on which they held the Dockyard, the property has in consequence reverted to the EvelynWright family. Mr Wright has returned to New Zealand having been unsuccessful in consequence of the refusal of the authorities at the Admiralty to allow an inspection of their title, and any legal process which would compel them to produce the required document would prove too costly.